"Lass!", Ikarisa yelled, gathering monsters with giant chains.

"Leave it to me! Hiya!", Lass swiftly took care of a hoard of monsters. "Hmm. That Wing Of Aether you got is quite handy actually."

"Thanks but...there's just no end to them.", she said as she panted.

"Let's keep it together. Pull back for now. I'll get the frontlines and take care of everything else."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, go. Meet up with Anya in the main plaza.", he said as he nodded.

"A-Alright!"

Lass had started cutting his way to the front lines to meet up with the rest of the resistance, as Risa met up with Anya in a desperate state at the main plaza.

"Just die!", Anya screamed as she sawed monsters in half.

"Leave her alone!", Ikarisa screamed as she snapped her fingers, summoning a wide range of swords.

In a flash Ikarisa's magic swords, like a bunch homing missiles, targeted and completely neutralized all surrounding monsters inn the plaza.

"Woah, nice!"

"I used too much...", Ikarisa whispered as she kneeled.

"You ok?"

"It's been way too long since I used any of my powers...they're draining me fast."

"It's alright, I've got news to cheer you back up. Every single citizen, innocent as well as soldier is perfectly safe."

"Wha-but the blood everywhere!"

"It only seems to be originating from monsters. They aren't even targeting people!"

"That's impossible. Monsters have always been volatile...they where created that way to keep the balance.”

"It looks like that's all they're doing anyway. They're constantly trying to get themselves to the main plaza."

"Anya...please. I need to get out of the city, fast!"

"Really? No, wait...I think I gotcha! There's no way a car can maneuver through this. Hop on!, Anya yelled as she grabbed a horse for Ikarisa.

"I-I uh..."

"Don't worry all in-city horses are tamed and trained. Now-"

"No. I'm going alone. Please go tell Senpai immediately...I don't know how much longer I can keep this up."

"But you...right. Go, go!"

While Ikarisa took off on horseback for the nearest city gate, a struggle on the front lines was emerging, as the monsters grew increasingly violent.

"I'll cut down everything!" Lass screamed, taking down an entire hoard of monsters.

"Not bad.", Kalimo scoffed at Lass.

"Shut up and work. What the-", Lass said in surprise, blocking a giant hammer. "God...damn..."

"How's this, you son of a bitch?!", Anya screamed as she cut in the middle of the attack, cutting the monsters head clean off. "Critical and clinical." she said with a smug.

"Well done for a mutt. Wait...where's Risa?!"

"She took off again, heading outside of the city as we speak."

"You've gotta be shitting me...not again.", Lass worryingly said with a facepalm.

"I wouldn't react like that, big guy. She has a plan."

"Her powers!", Lass said with a jolt.

"Bingo. Moreover these monsters seem to have become weaker as a result of that.

"Where was she heading at?"

"The field outside of the west gate.", Anya said as she pointed the way. "I'm going after her ok?"

"I'm coming too. Everyone! Stop expanding forces! Redirect all available fighters and army units to the main gates. Cut off every single one of them!"

A woman in a prideful big looking armor then approached him, looking utmost annoyed but Lass's actions.

"And who are you to be leading my army?", the woman angrily replied.

"Yo Heista! What's up?!"

"Huh? Anya?", Heista replied with surprise. "I should've known than despite all that was said with your dad, you'd be out here."

"Surprise-surprise, the big shot merchant knows the army general of Reingard. At this point everything is possible.", Lass said with a sigh.

"You bet! She's my drinking buddy! And after all this is over, might as well crack a can or a dozen!", Anya happily said, wagging her tail.

"He is with you?"

"Yeap! Ever since he entered the city. He's got a knack for battles too...don't underestimate him!"

The troubled Heista looked at them both with hesitation, before she too, under the stressful situation, cracked her suspicions.

"Do as you where told!", Heista said, slamming her sword and picking it up.

"But ma'am! If we break the parameter lines, the monsters from the sides will pour in!", the soldier replied.

"The hell kinda plan-", Heista's words got cut by Lass.

"Shut up and do it already.", Lass calmly said with a menacing look.

"I-I, yes! Right away sir!"

"Not bad kid. Might know your way around leading and ordering...but don't get too full of yourself!", Heista said with a smirk.

"He is bad around people and socializing, but good at giving orders. Now how about that?", Anya said with a smug.

"Come on, let's go after Risa-chan. She won't be able to hold for long!", Lass said as he got on a horse.

"Yes!", Anya replied.

Leaving the front lines to be taken care of by Heista, the two of them rushed to the fields outside the west gate, where a horrifying in size monster hoard had gathered all around Ikarisa.

"Back off!", Lass said as he slashed monsters away.

"You ok?!", Anya worryingly said.

" I' alright alright...thanks to you and Lass being here. Now please do the last part of my plan. Break down all military barricades nearby.", Ikarisa said, all out of breath and panting.

"You're planning to nuke them all of at once? But that's-", Lass said in a worried manner.

"It'll be ok...you can trust me!", she said with a warm smile.

"I...ok."

"I'll take the right.", Anya said as she prepared herself.

"Please...hurry!", Ikarisa said, barricading herself with her powers.

Swift as the little goddess's words, Lass and Anya made quick work of all military barricades that once held the monsters back, letting them all pour in on the little goddess as she steadily held them off.

"That's the last one!", Lass yelled.

"They're all pouring in!", Anya said as she watched the monsters heading towards Ikarisa.

"Get away! Now!", Ikarisa screamed.

"Come on big guy! Over here!", Anya said as she grabbed Lass.

"Get down!", he yelled.

Breaking the barrier that once held the monsters back from herself Ikarisa slowly lifted herself up in the air.

"I owe this to you...I'll save them. Anya and Senpai...I'll save them both! Before it all turns into ashes again, flower of resurrection of the bottomless abyss, burst!”

With those words the intense Obsulyte gathered in front of Ikarisa, engulfing her in a red light aura as it tried to enter her body, it rejecting the energy from entering. Dispersing at once, the energy started reducing the enemy numbers to an absolute zero in the flash of an eye. Ikarisa could only stare in amazement at the powerful sight as she herself could not believe on the abilities she had locked deep inside her for all this time.

"W-Wow...thank you...truly. I owe you more than I can ever…", she paused her whispering as she felt what seemed like a gentle gesture of a shadow, patting her head in understanding.

"Risa! You idiot! That was way more dangerous than I thought! You could've killed yourself! You never told me you'd use so much pow-", Lass's words where cut by Ikarisa's actions.

"Thanks a lot!", she said with a smile, hugging Lass.

"I...sure.", Lass sighed as he retained his scolding to not take away Ikarisa’s joy.

"Hell of two lovebirds you two make!", Anya said with a chuckle.

"W-What?! Me and Lass...that’s not possible!”, Ikarisa blushed.

"I will kill you, damn mutt.", Lass menacingly looked at Anya.

"Ehe, it was just a joke!", Anya said with sweat on her face, lowering her ears.

"Risa, what about you? Are you ok?", Lass asked.

"For some reason, despite the power I just used I don't have a scratch on me but...I probably won't be able to use them again for a short while. At least it didn't hurt me like I thought- I mean nothing!", Ikarisa switched her words, afraid of Lass's reaction.

"So you where actually planning literally blow up! You idiot! I knew something wasn't good about that plan! Are you serious?!", Lass yelled, unable to contain his anger and worry.

"I know...sorry.", Ikarisa rubbed her head

"Despite what you show...you actually care a hell of a lot don't ya big guy?", Anya whispered. "Such a kid...", she said with a chuckle.

"The hell did you say mutt?!

"I said you're a kid!", Anya winked.

"You're asking for it all the time. Damn nuisance of a dog..."

"Come on, let's get back.'", Anya said with a chuckle.

Getting back to the now washed up battlefield inside the city walls, they calmly made their way towards the frontlines...surprised and horrified they where greeted with a sight most brutal.

"What?! The hell happened here?!", Anya said in surprise.

"Complications. After the giant explosion in the middle of the field, while all the monsters there where dead, those here went absolutely berserk. They started brutally and madly attacking us. They are dead now but...soldiers and competitors...", Heista said with a grim face.

"B-But I thought...I did it. I saved everyone? I...there's no way!", Ikarisa said as she started to tear up from the mere sight of the wounded and the bloody.

The area was comprised from nothing but pain and agony. Several soldiers and tournament competitors, as well as anyone else who chose to grab a weapon and fight where all lying in a state of pain, soaked with their own blood.

“Holy shit. I've never...seen anything like this...", Anya said, lowering both her tail and ears. “What is..this?”

"Risa! Hey Risa! Dammit, stop running away!", Lass said as he tried to get a hold of Ikarisa.

"Damn we must-", Anya's words where stopped at once by Lass.

"No. You've done way more than enough. Stay here and look after them."

As Anya nodded and Lass ran after Ikarisa he was quick to lose sight of her. Anxious about the situation he could only think of a single place in the entire city where he could find the little goddess. Taking his chances, he rushed to none other than the bridge next to the tree outside of the arena, where the three had their first heartfelt moment. She was just standing there, looking towards the general direction of the wounded soldier’s camp but averting her eyes from the exact place where it all happened. The reason for her running unknown, she herself could have only wished to get away from the familiar but unwanted sight.

"I'm such a crybaby aren't I...", she said as she managed to form a weak smile through her wet face, retaining some form of calm.

"Risa...", Lass calmly said as he stepped down.

"What is there to say? I failed again didn't I? I tried to keep everyone safe...safe from me. I used all I had to protect them and you. And yet I just stood there. I watched as all of them where carried away. And like the coward I am, I didn't tell them why this all happen. Who caused it to happen...I couldn't even heal their wounds because my powers have been depleted for now. I just have to sit and ask myself again and again…why do I do it? Why do I run away? Why does my head feel fuzzy the more that I look back? Why do I keep telling myself that I have a duty and a task to fulfill that I obviously can’t seem to burden? All these questions and much more I just fail to answer every day but I keep dragging others like you with me, engulfing them in all this. I’ve thought of stopping numerous times. I though if I would just let myself go and be killed in a way that it would all end…but this one voice in my head tells me it will only be worse.”

"I know how you feel. Wanting to protect someone you care for...calling it your duty but then running away. Not because you where powerless. But because you where frightened. You didn't even run away in the first place...had it not been for you monsters could've done way worse-"

Ikarisa chuckled. “You know how it feels…you really, really do…”, she whispered as she tried to hold her tears in, “I have to ask you one of my many questions…unless they will just keep pilling up.”

”Sure…anything you need.”, Lass complied.”

”Why? Why did you do it? Why did you follow and believe some random girl in the rain that appeared crazy? You could have just stayed there and not gotten into all this mess…”

Lass paused for a moment before giving his answer. “Honestly, I don’t know. Be it the boredom at the time or what I had to deal with because of losing dad…I really don’t know. I can’t put a finger on half the things I’m doing. Be it instinct or something else, I can’t help myself but knowing that somehow, someway, this is how it was meant to be. I mean, it sounds like something out of a textbook for kids, but it seemed too random to be random. Some girl in the rain appears to me half dead in my doorstep, then that cultist and the healing powers…it felt like at that point, this wasn’t every day, was it? Luck…no, not really. And even then, I always felt that throughout my life, something was missing. That outside of that smith that my dad raised me in, something was always off. He told me that one day, I have to and that I must travel to see the world and ‘find myself’. I always used to write it off as some philosophical crap he would flush down my head like that dumb kids story he did. That was until he died…I kept pondering on everything he said more than ever before, including the story and that philosophy and the day you came, it all just felt…connected, in a way? Either way, you don’t have to worry about me leaving your side. Though my goal is unclear and I have no idea what I’m actually doing, I know that I can at least be by your side without worrying about you going away just like that. Weird as it is…I can’t shake off at all the fact that I for some reason have seen your face before. Guess it’s comforting somehow? I really just…don’t know. Only thing I can do is only hope that you feel the same.”

“Had it not been for me, monsters wouldn't exist. Had it not been for me, monsters wouldn't be here in the first place...I should have been killed like him. All the way back then. Because I would have at least done everything I could to save this world, those inside it and not having to make them suffer.”

"You wandered for so long...but even then, you don't know? Sometimes even doing our best will still not be enough. Sometimes failure may follow even when we push the limits. But when that happens, it only means that the limits can be pushed further. If we were to give up on the first failure, or the second, or the one hundredth, how would we be able to move forward and see success?", Lass said with a chuckle, trying to lighten the crying goddess's mood.

"Did I...do my best?", she said as she began to break down.

Lass dared not to speak a word, he too afraid of the outcome based on whatever he said.

"Did I? Is that…my limit?", she asked again as cried as her voice began to break.

"Only you can set your limits…but I can and will always tell you that you can go further.", Lass patted Ikarisa’s head.

Those words where enough to send the already tearing goddess into a state of total breakdown. She could not but cry for her damnation he could not but console her during her horrible times...he knew that it was better yet for him to see his tears than others. He had met her a few days ago, but he knew it deep inside him, he cared too much to let her cry on her own. He knew one such feeling, though he failed to find said feeling’s origin, but was himself inexperienced on handling it. He could only hold her tighter as she did the same. And despite both her sadness for her duty and his sadness for her fate she just had to carry on...